Monday, May 26, 2014

Here is the card I made using my new Tim Holtz Bubbles stencil and distress inks. This card is for a friend whose favorite colour is red. To begin with the card base is red card stock, with a pink piece of card stock for the card front. The white piece that I stenciled is the 110# weight card stock from Mikes.

Cut and scored the red card stock base and then cut the pink card stock to the size I needed for the card front. Using my brown craft mat I used distress inks and the Bubbles stencil for the card front:

I used Ripe Persimmon for the top of the stencil, followed that with Festive Berries for the middle section of the stencil and then the bottom part of the stencil I used Barn Door:

Removed the stencil to see this:

Once the stencil was removed I used a baby wipe to wipe off the stencil and the craft mat before putting them away. Trimmed my stenciled piece to the size I needed for my card front using the paper trimmer.

For "Happy Birthday" I used a stamp set from Gina K Design "Stippled Nature" and stamped that onto scrap white 110# card stock using red ink. Using the Tags Ribbon Trio #2 die set from Spellbinders and cut out the greeting using the Cuttlebug.

Using the ATG I put the stenciled piece onto the pink card stock and then using ribbon from the stash I put the greeting tag on the front of the card pieces. Once the ribbon was secured in place using double sided tape I put the card front pieces onto the red card stock base. Tied a red ribbon bow and put that next to the greeting tag on the front:

Easy card to put together and the stencils are very easy to use and have endless possibilities --- this card is needed to go into the mail this week so am glad I was able to find this stencil @ Mikes --- TFL and YOLO

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

April showers bring May flowers and for me? It was Mr. Brown that brought me my Stampin Up Extra Large Fancy Flower Punch --- which is now on the Stampin Up Retired List. You never know what products you need until you see a really cute project or a pretty card that uses the products you don't have. With Stampin Up retiring products you can either buy from them if the items are still available or wait until you can find it for sale on Ebay. But this flower punch I did not plan on buying at all until I saw this cute little guy from Connie Collins.

Never have been a big fan of gingerbread men at holiday time --- but I did buy the Stampin Up stamp set that comes as a bundle with the dies Scentsational Season and I made this holiday card:

But that was the only gingerbread guy I made last holiday season. However, this year I will be making many of this little guy:

Here are the punches I used to make him:

For my guy I used scrap Kraft card stock from Paper Trey Ink and punched out a flower piece. Then using the 1" circle punch I punched out a circle for his face also from the Kraft card stock. Here is a closer photo of the punches used:

The silver punch on the left is a small circle and I punched out two black circles for the gingerbread eyes. The 1/4" circle punch on the right is for the two red cheek circles and then two black circles for his buttons.

Here are the punches for his body and his face:

The 1" circle for his face and the flower punch for his body. For the face circle and flower body I sponged the edges of those using brown ink. Using a fine black marker I made his mouth on the 1" circle and then using a glue pen I put the eyes above his mouth. The red cheek circles and two black buttons I put on using small glue dots. Added a red ribbon bow with a glue dot and he was finished:

He is a cute size to be on a name card for a place marker on a holiday table, or he could be a gift tag, or on a topper for a bag of candies, etc. But I decided he would be a perfect size for the Ghiradelli holders that I make using the Sizzix Petal Card die --- here is a sample holder I just made up using this cute little guy and he will be making friends this holiday season as I plan on making up a lot of these for the Ghiradelli candy treats for Christmas -- again this is a sample and I used double sided card stock from Stampin Up for this holder:

This little guy fits perfectly on the front of the holder. Thanks again to Connie C for sharing her photo of this cute gingerbread man. TFL and YOLO

Sunday, May 11, 2014

Sorry about the blurred photo but here is a photo of the newest babies -- soon to leave their nest . . . This saga has gone on for a year or so --- the original bird nest was built on this light near the ceiling of the front porch. First family had a budget and only had three babies . . . but a few families later they were having five babies at a time - - - DH decided with 5 babies that as the birds grew things would get cramped in the nest with the kids stretching their wings and such. . .

So one day I came home to find this wood shelf -- which DH assures me is a DECK -- around the bird nest so the kids won't fall out of the nest -- well I just took this photo to show how the new kids will soon be leaving the nest but were more than happy to pose for a final family photo before they all leave home --- looks as tho 2 of the kids like the "deck" . . . Won't be long before we are empty nesters again . . . am thinking we have had quite a few birds get their start on our porch -- even tho DH built bird houses and they are all over the yard in trees, on posts, and the like --- they must like the protection of the ceiling on the porch. So this photo is for everyone who asks if we are empty nesters once again --- haha. TFL and YOLO

Card stock base is Kraft card stock from PaperTreyInk. Used a red card stock for the front as well as a cream from Mikes and the patriotic print is from Hobby Lobby. Used the Stars die set from Little B for the stars on the front. The banner was cut out using a die set from Spellbinders.

To begin with in the Stars die set from Little B you have star dies that will just cut out a star shape and then you have a stitched star border die and that will give your cut out star shape the look of stitching on the edges. Here are photos of a blue star and a brown star to show this better. You need to use the two dies and I put painter's tape on mine so they stay together and straight while cutting them out:

These dies cut through the thickers and thinner card stocks with no problems and the stitching is a nice detail to the star edges.

Once the Kraft card stock base was cut out I put the red, cream, and patriotic card stocks together using the ATG. I cut a piece of red chevron card stock, also from Hobby Lobby, across the front of the card. Then I cut out the brown star, sponged the edges with brown ink, and using a star printed card stock, again from Hobby Lobby, I cut out a smaller star, again sponged the edges with a dark red ink, and put that on the brown star. Using the computer I printed out "Happy Memorial Day" onto the cream card stock from Mikes and used a banner die to cut it. Lightly sponged the edges of the banner piece using the dark red ink.

Using a button from the button jar I ran twine through that and put that onto the banner using a large glue dot. Did not have any "bling" to match the colours of the star print so using a small circle punch I punched out three circles from the star print card stock and put those onto the banner piece using a glue pen:

Put the banner piece across the star front using glue dots. Put the star onto the card front using pop dots for dimension. TFL and YOLO

Simple quilted look card -- I used a 1 1/4" square punch on this card but you can use a 1" square punch too. All you need is double sided card stock for the quilted pieces. Punch out 6 squares --- you need 5 full squares and the 6th one you cut into quarters. Once I had my pieces cut out I did a 'dry' layout and then used a ruler to measure the 'quilt'. I cut a piece of cream card stock that size so I could put the quilted pieces on that.

For the full squares I used the ATG to put them onto the cream base and for the small quarter pieces I used the glue pen. Once these were all together I used the Damask embossing folder by Darice and embossed it. Put it on a blue piece of card stock for my card front and using the Ticket Trio stamp set from Gina K Designs I stamped "get well soon" in blue ink below the quilted piece.

Put these onto a green card stock base and the card was done. Added a red flower button from the button jar and added twine to that. Put the button onto the card front using a large glue dot. TFL and YOLO

Card stock base is lavender, then purple, and white/GP for the card front. Used a new-to-me border punch from Stampin up for the white piece across the top of the card. Punched out coloured circles to put behind this border piece for colour. Put the border piece onto the circles using a glue pen.

Put this on a piece of white/GP card stock near the top edge. Using the Swiss Dots embossing folder I embossed this piece. Once that was done I trimmed it to the size I needed for the card front and put the card pieces together.

For "happy birthday" I used scrap pink card stock and then used the Little B die set "Handwritten" and cut out the "happy birthday". These dies are very nice and the pieces come right off the dies once they are cut out. I put the words onto the card front using a glue pen. Added pink crystals from the stash next to each word. TFL and YOLO

Thursday, May 8, 2014

How many times do we hear about an elderly couple who had been married forever and one of them passes away and then hours or just days away their spouse also passes?

If you have read my blog recently you know a great neighbor of mine when I lived in NY recently passed away. John was a great guy, the neighbor anyone would want, and he was married to Joyce. Joyce was a "girly girl" -- always had her hair done every week, dressed well, and she and John were bananas about each other --- they raised eight kids together and in their final years they raised a furry daughter, Miss Marcie. Miss Marcie passed away a couple of years ago with John passing less than two weeks ago. I just received word that his beloved wife, Joyce has also passed away, ten days after John, and I am sure John and Miss Marcie were waiting for her to arrive. . .

Since Joyce liked all girl colours here is the sympathy card I made to remember her:

Card is on a card stock base of black and the white is GP. I used the Swiss Dots embossing folder for the white embossed card front. Cut the greeting label out using the Spellbinders Labels 10. Used a rose stamp from Inkadinkado that I inked with VersaMark ink. Then used shimmer chalks and chalked that. Using a stamp from the Stampin Up stamp set Thoughts and Prayers I stamped the greeting at the bottom of the flower. Added a pink ribbon bow with a glue dot to the flower stem.

Here is a closer photo to show the shimmer of the chalks on the card front. May John, Joyce, and Miss Marcie rest in peace together as the family they always were. TFL

Monday, May 5, 2014

Used an older 6 x 6 pad of printed card stock from SU for this card. Wanted to use the Pinwheel Technique but wanted to use a scalloped square punch for the pieces of the pinwheel rather than the plain square punch. I had learned this from a Youtube video long ago by dawn5377. Dawn shows how to make your pinwheel and card and it is a quick video to watch. She also has the sizes of card stock pieces she uses for her pattern.

For my card I used a dark blue card stock base, then a white/GP piece, then the dotted card stock. Using the ATG I put the dotted card stock onto the white/GP piece. Used sheer white ribbon from the stash and tied that around those pieces. Once the ribbon was on I put this onto the card stock base. Set it aside.

I needed a greeting for the card front but did not want to stamp anything or make a tag. Instead I used the Handwriiten die set from Little B Dies --- these are great dies and when you buy them they come with their magnetic sheet for storage -- very economical dies and packaging. Here is how these dies are sold:

To store these I have all my Little B dies in an Art Bin that is made for magnetic dies and I store it upright on my shelf. The Art Bin keeps the dies dust free but easy to find in the craft room maze . . .

I cut out the "hello" die using a piece of wax paper on top of the die and ran it through the Cuttlebug. The die easily came off of the white card stock I had cut it out of and these dies are very nice. Once I had the "hello" cut out I used a glue pen on the back of the word to put it on the lower right corner of the card front:

Assembled my pinwheel pieces and set that aside. Here is a trick I just learned to add bling to your card without the bulk of a button or the back of a brad -- using pop dots only:

I used an awl to remove a large pop dot from the sheet:

Peeled off the paper front:

Keeping the pop dot on the awl turn it over and put it into glitter:

Press it down into the glitter to cover the front of the pop dot. Take the pop dot out of the glitter and tap it off to be sure all loose glitter falls off:

Now put this glittered pop dot into the center of your pinwheel -- here is a photo of this on the pinwheel to show the sparkle of this:

Easy way to add a bit of bling to your project without the bulk -- I used a fine silver glitter from Martha Stewart for my pop dot.

Once that was done I put pop dots behind my pinwheel piece to put this on the card front. The pop dots add dimension to the front of the card:

Here is the card front again:

The Pinwheel Technique goes together quickly and with each card it takes on a different look depending on what prints and colours of card stock you use. TFL and YOLO

Sunday, May 4, 2014

Another card using the distressed inks with a stencil and mask. I had taken a class with Daphne much earlier in the year using distressed inks and now that I have all the information and tips Daphne shared with us I wanted to make more cards using what I learned. This card is also inspired by Daphne and I want to send a BIG thank you to Cheryl for the stencil and mask I used for this card.

Card stock base is pink, with a piece of green for the card front. Cut and scored the card base and front green piece and set those aside. I used 110 lb weight white card stock from Mikes for the white piece. I cut it to the size I would need for my card front. Then I used the Brilliant Peony Stencil from Memory Box for the flower and the mask is their Garden Bloom Stencil. Here is a list of the distressed inks I used for the flowers:

Squeezed Lemon
Spiced Marmalade
Spun Sugar

For the script stamp:

Brushed Corduroy

For the stems/leaves:

Shabby Shutters
Peeled Paint

For the flowers I used the Squeezed Lemon and over that I added Spiced Marmalade and the pink on the outside is Spun Sugar. With distressed inks -- two tips --- have baby wipes ready for use and also -- remember you can add colour but not take it away. Light touch is the key to this ---- and with this stencil I "pounced" the applicator rather than the normal circular motion you would use if not using a stencil. By pouncing the applicator you will not tear your stencil:

Once I had the flowers done I then added the stems/leaves. Using a script stamp from Hero Arts I inked that with distressed ink Brushed Corduroy. Stamped it off onto scrap card stock and then stamped it onto the stenciled piece. Sponged the edges of this piece using the Shabby Shutters ink. Added a pink ribbon and tied that into a knot. For the greeting I used a stamp from SU Teeny Tiny Wishes --- the stamp reads "hello baby" but I only inked the "hello" of the stamp and stamped it onto scrap white card stock. Using the Spellbinders Simply Charmed die set I cut the greeting tag out. Sponged the edges of that with the Shabby Shutters ink. Put this under the ribbon using a glue dot:

Easy card to put together once you decide your ink colours -- always remember to start with the lighter colours and then go to the darker colours as you work. There is no right or wrong using the distressed inks and stencils -- quite easy to do and it makes a big impact on your card front. TFL and YOLO

Thanks to all that left nice comments about my posting of my old neighbor in NY that recently passed. This past week DH and I planted a pink Crepe Myrtle tree in our front yard in honor of our best neighbor John. We chose pink for one reason only -- John had quite the sense of humor and was always up to something. I had a pink flamingo in one of my gardens in NY and John made sure he commented on that addition. . . One morning I was leaving for work at 2:30AM and in the front yard was my pink flamingo and a couple more.. I pulled out the flamingos and waited a couple of days, added a couple more to them and one night I put them in John's front yard... that day after work the flamingos were gone --- a couple of days later I am leaving for work and the flamingos I had put in John's front yard, with a few more, John had put in the neighbors yard on his other side --- so in honor of John we now have a pink Crepe Myrtle. Again --- thanks all for the nice comments --- Candee P

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About Me

Retired from a government job after 30 years. Recently moved from New York to North Carolina. My card making craft began with one Stampin Up party and I have gone on from there. Try to buy the most with my dollars---coupons or sales at the big box craft stores but have found the best deals are on my local Craig's List ads and in the past also Ebay. Also like to cross stitch, sew, and cook and bake from scratch.